Waterproof stem seal for watch cases



June 26, 1962 H. DINSTMAN WATERPROOF STEM SEAL FOR WATCH CASES FiledDec. 31, 1958 INV ENT OR.

HYHAN DIN-STMAN AJTflR/VE'Y United States Patent i 3,040,514 WATERPROOFSTEM SEAL FOR WATCH CASES Hyman Dinstman, 115 Central Park West,

New York, N.Y. Filed Dec. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 784,353 2 Claims. (CI.58-90) not be attached to either the watchcase or the crown. The

This invention relates to the art of watch construction and particularlyconcerns an improved waterproof and dustproof seal for a watch crown.

Heretofore it has been conventional to rely upon a metal bushing orpendant portion of a crown to provide sealing against dust and moisture.TI'his structure has not proven wholly satisfactory in practice. It istherefore a principal object of the present invention to provide animproved waterproofing treatrnent for a watch crown in which a sealingmeans is provided between the neck of a crown and a bore in the bezel orwall of a watchcase.

A further object is to provide a soft, pliable sleeve or gasket aroundthe neck of a watch crown to provide a waterproof seal in the wall of awatchcase.

A still further object is to provide a flanged rubber sleeve forwaterproofinga crown of a watch.

Another object is to provide a flanged rubber sleeve secured to thecrown of a watch by a metal retainer for providing a waterproof seal ofthe crown to a watch bezel.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a crown and a portion of a watchcase.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of another crown and portion of a watchcaseshowing another sealing structure for the crown.

FIG. 3 is an exploded elevational view of parts of the structure of FIG.2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 1 and 2 of still anothercrown and portion of a watchcase with another sealing structure.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sealing member employed in thestructure of FIG. 4.

The structure shown in FIG. 1 includes a watch crown 10 having a head 12and a neck 14 which has an internally neck is cylindrical in form and isdisposed in a cylindrical bore 1 8 in the wall or bezel of a watch case[19. The diameter of the bore 18 is greater than the external diameterof neck 14. Mounted on the neck 14 is a cylindrical sleeve 22 made of asoft pliable material such as rubber,

.or a suitable synthetic material. The sleeve 22 fits tightly betweenthe neck 14 and the bore 18 to effect a waterproof flange 24 willprevent axial movement of the sleeve and prevents the sleeve fromfalling into the watch case. The

sleeve in any case can be easily removed for replacement in the event ofexcessive wear.

The sleeve provides the desired waterproof and dustproof seal byexerting some pressure between the wall of bore 18 and the neck '14.This is accomplished by providing a sleeve whose wall thickness in anormal state is slightly larger than the difierence in diameters of bore18 and the neck 14. By compressing the soft, pliable sleeve, it fitssnugly in the space between the neck and bore to provide the desiredcomplete, long lasting waterproof and dustproof seal.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 is shown another form of the invention in which aspringy metal washer or retainer ring 30 is inserted in the recess 26*at the underside of the flange 24% of the sleeve '22. This flange maybemade slightly thinner than flange 24* to provide space in the recess 26forreceiving the'ring 30. A ledge or lip 32 may be formed on thecylindrical wall of recess 26 for effectively retaining the ringtherein. The ring will be snapped past the lip for secure engagementwith the flange 24.

In FIGS. 4 and 5 there is shown provided another form of sealing sleeve22 in which two flanges 24 and 25 are provided at opposite ends of thesleeve. The flange 25 engages the inner wall 21 of the watchcase whilethe flange 24 seats in recess 26 in the head 12 of the crown. By use ofthe two flanges as shown, the sleeve is prevented from accidentaldisengagement from the case when the crown is withdrawn therefrom.

The beneficial sealing effect is obtained with substantially equaleffectiveness by use of any of the sleeves described, the variationsamong the several sleeves depending on their flanged structure whichrelates to their mode of attachment to the watch and crown.

The present invention provides a simplified structure for obtaining awater proofing and dustproofing of the threaded bore 16 to receive theusual watch stem. The

bezel bore through which extends the neck of a crown. The sealing meansis readily replaceable when necessary. It does not interfere in any waywith the operation of the watch or with setting and winding functions ofthe crown. 1

While I have illustrated and described the preferred em bodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent 1. A waterproof and dustproofsealing structure for a watch, comprising a watchcase having acylindrical bore extending from the interior to the exterior of thecase, a crown having a head and an integral cylindrical neck with anexternal diameter smaller than the diameter of said bore, said crownbeing mounted on said case with said neck extending through said bore,to a point beyond the inner end of the bore, a soft, pliable cylindricalsleeve disposed between the neck and bore along the length of the neckfor effecting a waterproof and dustproof seal between the neck and borewith a flange at one end to pre Patented June 26, 1962 vent undesiredaxial movement of said sleeve with respect to the crown and watchcase,said head having a lipped recess therein to receive and seat saidflange, and an annular ring disposed in abutment with said flange insaid recess and retained by the lip of said recess.

2. A seal structure for a watch comprising a watch case having a boretherethrough, a crown formed of a recessed head and a stem extendingtherefrom and through the bore in the case in spaced relationship, asoft and pliable tubular seal encircling the stem in a sealedrelationship and having a flange disposed in the recess in said head,the seal extending beyond the ends of the bore and being of greaterunflexed diameter than said bore for forming a seal therebetweenexerting a sealing force on 4 the bore ends, an annular ring disposed insaid recess abutting said flange, and a lip disposed about the edge ofthe recess for retaining said ring. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,237,860 Bolle Apr. 8, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 166,537 Switzerland Mar. 1,1934 214,661 Switzerland Aug. 1, 1941 264,359 Switzerland Q Ian. 3, 1950311,860 Switzerland Feb. 15, 1956

